4D3N Stay at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu

In November 2024, I enjoyed a 4-day 3-night stay at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort in Kota Kinabalu. The resort offers stunning coastal views and the location is not far from the airport and the city, offers an unforgettable experience.

The highlights

Room: Spacious, clean room with large double bed, balcony with breathtaking sea views.

Dining:  The breakfast buffet was great.

Activities: The pools open until 10pm, which was great for a night swim.

Sunset: Watching the sunset from the resort was magical, with the sky transforming into vibrant hues of orange and pink.

Live Bands: The nightly live music at the lobby cafe, with talented musicians creating a soothing ambiance, was a personal favorite and added charm to the evenings.

Shangri-La Tanjung Aru is a perfect getaway for anyone seeking an unforgettable escape.

Imperial Boutec Hotel, KK

Imperial Boutec Hotel, Warisan Square, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

We stayed in this same hotel in 2013.

It is a small hotel, with small rooms but with a view like this... it is worth to come back to.

You can enjoy the sunset while just seating on bed!

Here's the rest of the room..

Mamutik Island, Sabah

We have been to Sapi Island, been to Manukan Island too.

So, this time, we try a smaller island - Mamutik.

Indeed, this smaller island has a super clear sea water, a great place for snorkeling.  Clean, white, sandy beaches too.

Unfortunately, when we were there earlier this month, the weather was super hot and it is also the jellyfish season.  Lots and lots jellyfish floating in the clear water, scary.  But according to the life guard, it is not really a big deal, if you got stings by the jellyfish, just come over to the life guard booth, they will spray the vinegar (cuka) on the effected area - that's is the only cure.. interesting!

And also according to the guard, when the water gets hotter, all the jellyfish will return to the deep sea.  True enough, around 10am there are fewer jellyfish around, and we can start our snorkeling activity.

We left the island around 1pm, cannot stay for too long, its just too hot during.  We were told that they have not had any rain in that area for 3 months.  

Wow, Kuching banjir tapi Sabah kemarau pulak.

Salam's Curry House, Kota Kinabalu

This mamak kopitiam is located right behind our hotel - Marina Court Resort.

Too lazy to walk a distance on our last day in KK, we settled for the nearest breakfast place that we can find.

Luckily we make the right decision, the food were great.

We had..

 

 Roti cheese telur

Poori - a bit sour, taste also similar to Tosai, I would prefer a deep fried poori.

Murtabak kambing

Drinks - milo ais and 2 teh tarik.

Total cost - RM27.10

Nando's at Oceanus Mall

Kesian jugak Oceanus Mall, Kota Kinabalu, ni.  Lokasi bukan main strategic lagi.  Tapi kedai banyak dah tutup dalam tu.  Ingatkan nak makan kat Sushi Tei, sekali tengok, dah tutup da.  Last-last kite makan kat Nandos je la.  Lagipun sekarang Nando's tengah Borneo Eklusif offer.

Order 1 set 1/4 chicken with 2 sides & get 2nd set half off.

We had, 4 sets of the 1/4 chicken, 2 Spark apple pomegranate drinks, 1 Chocolate Mud Cake, total RM101.90

Spark apple pomegranate - RM8.90 each

Chocolate Mud Cake - RM12.90

Offers end 31st March 2016 kalau tak silap.

My Spending KK-Tenom 2016

Kuching International Airport

Day 1
Taxi to KIA - RM26
Taxi to Imperial Boutec Hotel - RM30
Dinner at Filipino Market, Food - RM35, Drinks - RM5
Japan Boat Takoyaki - RM3.90 x 2
Supper at City Food Corner - RM18

Day 2
Breakfast at City Food Corner - RM23.60
Bus ride from KK to Tenom - RM20 per person
Oyong stop - RM5.60
Lunch - RM42
Tea break - Banana Cheese RM10
Lunch at Sweet Home Cafe - RM16

Day 3
Breakfast at Tenom Market
Fresh Banana - RM5
Hair salon - RM12
Lunch at Sweet Home cafe

Day 4
Breakfast at Chin Hin - RM28
Wit Foh coffee factory - RM44
Bus ride from Tenom to KK - RM20 per person
Oyong stop - RM10
Van from KK bus station to Marina Court Resort - RM30
Dinner at Nando's, Oceanus Mall - RM101.90
Japan Boat Takoyaki - RM3.90

Day 5
Breakfast - RM28 + RM11
Boat ride to Mamutik Island - RM130 for 3 adults 2 children
Snokeling gear rental - RM10 per set
Taxi to Jesselton - RM15
Tea break at Mamutik - RM16.50
Lunch at Jesselton - RM22
Taxi back to Marina Court Resort- RM15
Dinner - RM32

Day 6
Breakfast at Salam's Curry House - RM27.10
Taxi to KK Airport - RM30
Taxi to home - RM26

KK International Airport

Flight tickets for 2 adults and 2 children via MAS - RM1,035.60

Imperial Boutec Hotel, KK 2013

Kali ni kami pilih Imperial Boutec Hotel.

Sebab utama - senang nak jalan ke tempat2 yang kami nak tuju.  Tak payah la kami sewa keta kali ni.

Hotel ni ok je, yang kurang best nyer lobi terletak kat 7th floor, Warisan Square.  Mula nyer ada susah sikit nak cari, dah la kat lift bawah pun takder signboard langsung.  So ada rasa kurang konfiden sikit.

Tapi once dah kat lobi and check in semua - OK dah..
Plus the sea view from our room memang cantik!

At the lobby, anak-anak yang kepenatan.

Inside the room, clean but small.

The best part is the view, we opt for a room with sea-view; look at that.  I can stare at this for hours.

Pasar Malam Sinsuran, Kota Kinabalu

Pasar Malam Sinsuran also known as Pasar Malam Filipine.

Ikan - RM12

Sotong - RM15 (dalam 10 ekor)

Udang - RM5 (5 ekor)

Udang tu ada stall yang jual RM10, ada yang RM8, so kena tanya la terlebih dahulu.

Salad collagen - rumpai laut - RM1 je!

 If you are looking for cheap convenient food - this is the right place.  But if cleanliness and comfort is your priority - then this is not the place.

Beware of the smoke - not suitable for asthma children

Crab - Emmett is scared of these

The local calls these the King crabs - Price around RM48 per kg

Cooked King crabs

BBQ squid Price between RM15 - RM18

Lobsters

Veggies and herbs

Tomatoes and Chillies

 Even though you see plenty of fresh seafood here in KK, doesn't mean that there are cheap especially when you are eating at a restaurant. Make sure you ask for the price beforehand.

Generally the goods - Seafood / veggie here are cheap when it's raw, once it's cooked, that's another story all together.

Durian ohh durian di KK

Sampai jer kat KK, terus ronda gi cari durian crepe, mana la tau ada jumpa yang sedap macam durian durian midvalley tu kan..

Surprisingly, ada banyak kedai yang jual durian product kat KK ni.  1st jumpa brand Duria ni, ada tulis Durian Musang King kat kedai tu, kita pun cuba je la beli durian pancake dia, 5 for RM13.90.

Rasa nya tak berapa, basically they are just durian flavoured cream wrapped in pancakes.

Pastu jumpa kedai ni, nampak gambar durian crepe kat menu, tapi nama tetap durian pancake.  Kita pun beli gak.  4 for RM9.  Ha.. Yang ni baru la menepati citarasa! Happy sangat.

Inti pun banyak, tak la seciput sangat macam yang kat kuching tu.. Huhu

Gardenia Butterscotch versi Sabah

When I 1st saw this, I was like.. 'eh, betul ke Butterscotch Gardenia ni?!' 

Dah tengok betul-betul baru tau yang ni dikilangkan locally. Menarik!

Harga - RM6 sebuku, uik, mahal juga. Dari segi rasa pula, quite similar but abit too dry to my liking.

Apapun layan jer la, kat Kuching lagi takda.

*End up, ikan di Manukan island yang enjoy makan bread ni.

Malaysia Borneo

Kuching, Sarawak
Population : 658,549
Area: 431.01km
Established: 1827
Distance from KL: 977km

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Population : 617,972
Area: 351km
Established: 1882
Distance from KL: 1,624km

source: Senses of Malaysia, June 2011

Aquarium & Marine Museum - Shark

Aquarium & Marine Museum - UMS

Bamboo Shark (Yu Bodoh)
Bamboo Sharks are bottom dwellers that use their barbells to find food such as invertebrates and small fish.
Bamboo sharks are nocturnal animals who are rarely seen during the day.

Coral Catshark (Yu Cicak)
It is the beady green eyes of the adult size that give the shark its common name 'catshark'.

Aquarium & Marine Museum - Sea Cucumber

Aquarium & Marine Museum - UMS

Sea Cucumber (Gamat)

Aquarium & Marine Museum - Seahorse

Aquarium & Marine Museum - Universiti Malaysia Sabah
Seahorse (Kuda laut)

Aquarium & Marine Museum - Remora

Aquarium & Marine Museum - Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Ikan pelik, insang di belakang (atas)
Remora uses the sucking disc to attach to larger sishers, most commonly sharks and rays.

Ikan Gemi menggunakan cakera penghisap untuk melekat pada haiwan yang lebih besar seperti ikan jerung, pari dan penyu.

Aquarium & Marine Museum - Turtle

Aquarium & Marine Museum - Universiti Malaysia Sabah